Gifts appropriate for anniversaries

Published: Wednesday, July 09, 2003

L.A. TIMES-WASHINGTON POST SERVICE

By the start of the 20th century, the anniversary gift list was well established, according to Sharman Robertson, historian and archivist at Hallmark. Emily Post railed against couples who celebrated early, with silver on the 15th instead of the 25th, for example: "It's not only incorrect but shocking in its implication of 'We must hurry to celebrate the important weddings while we are still married to each other.' "

Some of the traditional gifts might seem outdated, or just bizarre, but the point is to use your imagination to celebrate your wedding anniversary your own way.

First: Paper

The most obvious gift of paper, a romantic love letter, is practically required on this occasion. An e-mail won't do. (Need help? You can't go wrong with poet Robert Browning's line: "Grow old with me! The best is yet to be."

Also, buy some tickets to a special concert, movie or play to enjoy together.

Other paper gifts would be books, photographs or a subscription to a favorite magazine or newspaper.

Friends or relatives of the newlyweds can treat them to a year's supply of wrapping paper or personalized note cards, or present a scrapbook of their wedding and honeymoon memorabilia.

Modern gift: clock.

Second: Cotton

It's time for some new, fluffy cotton towels. Add matching bathrobes. If the anniversary is in summertime, take your honey to a carnival and spring for a cone of cotton candy. Hammocks or patio umbrellas in sturdy cotton canvas make handsome gifts from parents.

Modern gift: china.

Third: Leather

Ideally, you would spring for a new car with leather interior or a set of matching leather luggage. But if you can't do that, try a leather keychain fob or lipstick case from a luxury brand such as Coach. Friends can give leather photo frames, storage boxes or albums.

Modern gift: crystal.

Fourth: Linen

Linen is a symbol of purity, used for priestly vestments and as burial cloths for thousands of years. Linen sheet sets, the height of luxury, are costly, about $300 for a queen-sized set. Instead, buy a linen throw (available from www.garnethill.com), linen pillows (try Pier 1 Imports) or a linen photo album (from www.westelm.com).

Modern gift: appliances.

Fifth: Wood

To mark that special five-year milestone, plant a tree. If you live in a condo, donate a tree through Global Releaf, where it costs about $15 for the organization to plant a tree domestically or internationally (visit www.AmericanForests.org.). For a more personal and romantic gift, try a teak bathtub caddy (www.holdeverything.com), filled with sensuous bath oils. Hallmark makes wooden memory boxes in which to keep the ticket stubs, love letters and memorabilia of the first five years.

Modern gift: silverware

Sixth: Iron

A practical gift? A new steam iron. An extravagant gift? A set of golf irons (maybe to match the set of woods you gave him last year). A whimsical gift? A waffle iron or cast-iron heart pan. Or spend a year at a gym, pumping iron. On some traditional lists, the sixth anniversary is Sugar and Sweet, but it's too easy to give a box of candy and a bouquet of flowers.

Modern gift: wood

Seventh: Wool or pottery

In winter, buy a cozy wool throw and two matching mugs with hot chocolate or coffee.

Modern gift: desk sets

Eighth: Bronze

Commemorate the eighth anniversary with bronze artwork or a planter filled with decorative Bronze Fennel. Bronze hand bells, which can be inscribed, cost about $100 from www.bronzebells.com in Lewiston, Maine.

Modern gift: linens and lace

Ninth: Willow

The willow tree symbolizes wisdom and long life. If you don't want to plant a huge tree in your yard, buy an iron and willow arbor for the garden.

Modern gift: leather

10th: Tin or aluminum

Big milestone, weird gift. You can spring for a new cast aluminum patio set or a big galvanized aluminum tub filled with chilled bottles of wine. But for something low key and cozy, stay in and rent an appropriate movie: "Tin Cup," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "Pushing Tin" or even "The Wizard of Oz."

Modern gift: diamonds

11th: Steel

Stainless steel is all the rage in home accessories this year, from big stainless steel soaking tubs to tile to sleek, contemporary appliances. Treat yourselves to a new multiple-head shower-steam system (try www.kohler.com or www.americanstandard.com).

Modern gift: fashion jewelry.

12th: Silk

After several years of gifts that are sturdy rather than sexy, this is the year to break out the silk lingerie. Or give a silk-filled pillow or comforter, or even silk long underwear.

Modern gift: pearls

13th: Lace

OK, another one for the women. Not too many lace gifts for hubby here. One way to mark the occasion: Plant some Picotee Lace begonias.

Modern gift: textiles.

14th: Ivory

Ivory is a banned product, so go for the faux look for flatware or serving pieces (www.MarthaStewartLiving.com). Take your sweetie to a night out at a piano bar and have the pianist tickle the ivories to the tune of your song. Plant an "Ivory Halo" dogwood tree.

Modern gift: gold jewelry

15th: Crystal

Buy something made of crystal for the two of you  a clock, a tray, vase, goblets or a ring holder. Or, get your spouse a new watch (You know  the watch face is called a crystal. ). The ultimate crystal would be snow: How about a ski trip?

Modern gift: watches

20th: China

Time to drag out the china you rarely use and complete a service that was never finished, or replace those pieces that fell victim to clumsy hands. Many online services stock out-of-date china patterns. A few are: www.replacements.com, www.chinapatterns.com, www.chinareplacements.com and www.thechinacupboard.com. Or start a new collection of contemporary china or vintage pieces found at antique shops. Then enjoy some Chinese food on it.

Modern gift: platinum

25th: Silver

Party time! Throw a family bash with silver mylar table covers, silver balloons and piles of silver-wrapped Hershey's Kisses. Break out all the silver candlesticks you put away after the wedding and celebrate.

Modern gift: sterling silver

30th: Pearl

A pair of pearl stud earrings: $300. A beautiful strand of pearls: $3,000. A trip to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii: priceless.

Modern gift: diamond

35th: Coral

Coral reefs are massive undersea structures made of limestone created by living things, mostly organisms called coral polyps. The reefs support more than 25 percent of all known marine species and are threatened by pollution, overfishing, development and mining for souvenirs. How about making a donation to the Coral Reef Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving coral reefs around the world (www.coralreefalliance.org). The movie "Coral Reef Adventure," an eye-popping underwater spectacle, is an IMAX theater option in some places.

Modern gift: jade

40th: Ruby

Send a bouquet of ruby-red tulips, or start the day with breakfast in bed and a glass of ruby red grapefruit juice.

Modern gift: coral or jade

45th: Sapphire

Take a hot air balloon trip into the sapphire blue sky.

Modern gift: sapphire

50th: Gold

Gather photographs, letters, cards, ticket stubs, invitations, old report cards, newspaper clippings and the deed to your house into a gold-bound album (www.exposures.com) to present to the lucky couple.

Modern gift: gold

55th: Emeralds

Time for a trip: to Seattle, the Emerald City; to the beach resort of Emerald Isle, N.C.; to the Emerald Coast of Florida, which includes Destin and Fort Walton Beach; to a horseback riding resort, Emerald Ranch, in Saranac Lake, N.Y., or to the real Emerald Isle  Ireland.